Bolgatanga Circuit Court: BOGISS Guards Granted Defilement Bail

• Two security guards from Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School, Adams Nyaaba Iddrisu (72) and Elvis Adongo (38), face defilement charges.
• They are accused of defiling a 14-year-old student, an offense under Section 101 of Ghana's Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960.
• The Bolgatanga Circuit Court granted each accused bail set at GH¢100,000.
• Bail conditions include providing two sureties, one of whom must earn at least GH¢3,000 monthly, and reporting to the police bi-weekly.
• The case has been adjourned to September 17, 2026, as investigations continue into the allegations.

The Bolgatanga Circuit Court has set stringent bail conditions for two security guards accused of defiling a 14-year-old student, requiring significant financial guarantees and regular police reporting.

The Bolgatanga Circuit Court has granted bail to two security guards from Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School (BOGISS) who are facing charges of defilement. Adams Nyaaba Iddrisu, aged 72, and Elvis Adongo, aged 38, were formally charged with the defilement of a child under the age of 16, an offense contrary to Section 101 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). The court, presided over by His Honour Sumaila Mbache Ahmadu, did not take their pleas during their appearance on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

The accused individuals were initially arrested and brought before the court on August 20, 2026, at which time they were remanded into police custody to allow for further investigations. The complainant in the case is Celestina Atuora, who serves as the Assistant Headmistress in charge of Domestic Affairs at BOGISS. The alleged victim is a 14-year-old first-year student at the school, described as a special child, whose name has been withheld.

According to the prosecution's brief facts presented to the court, the student, while a boarder at BOGISS, resides with her mother in a suburb of Bolgatanga. Investigations purportedly revealed that between June and July 2026, the student frequently visited the school's security room after evening prep sessions to charge her tablet. It is alleged that the two security guards exploited the student's vulnerability during these visits, initiating sexual intercourse with her.

The prosecution further claims that the accused individuals provided the student with financial assistance and food. One of the guards, Adams Nyaaba Iddrisu, reportedly purchased an Itel keypad mobile phone for her. The alleged acts of defilement are said to have occurred in various locations within the school premises, including the security room, behind the dining hall, and in a Unity Block classroom following evening studies. The matter came to light in July 2026 when the Dean of Discipline questioned the student about the mobile phone she was found using, leading to her disclosure that Adams Nyaaba Iddrisu had bought it for her. Subsequent questioning reportedly led the student to reveal the alleged sexual encounters with both accused persons. The complainant reported the incident to the police on July 23, 2026, leading to the arrest of the two suspects, and investigations are currently ongoing.

The Bolgatanga Circuit Court has set stringent bail conditions for the two security guards. Each accused person was granted bail in the amount of GH¢100,000. A key aspect of these Ghana child defilement bail conditions is the requirement for each defendant to provide two sureties. Furthermore, one of these sureties for each accused must be a gainfully employed individual earning a minimum monthly salary of GH¢3,000.

In addition to the financial and surety requirements, the court mandated that both Adams Nyaaba Iddrisu and Elvis Adongo report to the police once every two weeks. These specific conditions highlight the judicial discretion applied in serious cases of defilement, setting a benchmark for similar proceedings within the Bolgatanga Circuit Court. The case has been adjourned, with the next court date scheduled for September 17, 2026.

This case provides a practical example of the bail conditions and judicial discretion applied by the Bolgatanga Circuit Court in Ghana for serious defilement charges, particularly regarding high bail amounts, multiple sureties, and regular police reporting requirements. Lawyers handling similar cases should note these specific conditions as potential precedents or benchmarks.

Source: Original reporting via Albert Sore